FOOCtober
9. Loadout & Living Space (A Hug)
"No no nonoNo NOOO! Stupid old thing!" Piper's voice almost harmonised with the clang of broken metal from the old printing press. She kicked it then yelled from the pain of stubbing her toe.
"I told you, like, years ago that it needed fixing, Sis," Nat said.
"What'm I gonna do now, hey kiddo? The paper's due out in three days and it's the big commemorative issue! I've only been working on this for a year. '2290, A New Decade Dawns', she said with mock awe, then groaned, 'Publick Occurances Ceases to Occur'… aawwwwuhh!"
"I'm gonna join the Minutemen of Steel when I turn sixteen."
"What? Oooohhh, stupid machine. The lever sheared right off. Duct tape isn't going to fix the old girl this time."
"I asked the General if I could."
"What are you nattering on about, Nat?"
"He's right here in town, y'know? He brought his sons to do school this week. They're making a school up in Sanctuary, did you hear?"
"Oh what am I going to do? I doubt there's a printing press on the Prydwen, the technology is probably way too old for them to be bothered."
"So ask him."
"What? Ask who?"
"The General! Mister Sentinel-General?"
"What, Blue? Ask him what?"
"Oooohhh Piper you are unbelievable. Ask him to fix the printer, dumbass."
"Natalie Mary Katherine Wright! You do not get to call me names."
"Sorry Piper. Will you do it, though?"
"I…I don't wanna bother him Nat. He's a busy man."
Piper turned away to unload the precious paper from the broken machine and also so that her sister couldn't see her crying. What she didn't see was that Vin was waving and walking their way.
"He can't be that busy. Shall I ask him for you?"
Sentinel-General Vin Hudson suddenly said "Ask me what?" right behind Piper. She spun around in surprise, her eyes wide for a moment.
"Mr. Zwicky sent me to ask if he could have a ream of… what's wrong, Pipes?"
Piper's dam finally burst. "Oh Blue, it broke!
Vin looked over Piper's head at Nat who pointed at the printer. He wrapped his large arms around his sobbing friend. "Hey, firecracker, don't go all soggy on me now. You know what they say about me?"
Piper sniffed and looked up at Vin's warm, slightly cocky smile.
"I can fix anything!"
Thanks to @radioactive-synth for the wonderful screenshot that I edited here!